Russia has taken another step in the Estonian-Russian border treaty ratification process, sending the bill to President Vladimir Putin. If approved, it will head to the Duma for ratification.

The ratification process has seen little or no progress after foreign ministers of both nations signed the treaty more than a year ago. Russia has hitherto sent mixed signals, but the process now appears to be moving again after a committee tasked with preparing bills for government approval passed it on to the Russian government two weeks ago.

Now the Russian government has given its seal of approval, sending it to Putin, from where it will head to the Russian Parliament.

On the Estonian side, the bill passed the first of three readings when the last parliament was still in office. However, Estonia has said it will only ratify the treaty simultaneously with the Russian Parliament.

Despite some calls for the Estonian government to ditch the plan in the light of the Ukraine conflict, the ruling political forces have said a legally fixed treaty is in the interest of Estonia, and it will allow the nation to begin building border infrastructure.

Following the local elections in October this year, Reform Party founder, former prime minister, EU commissioner, and presidential candidate Siim Kallas took on the job of municipal mayor of Viimsi, a community on the outskirts of Tallinn. In his interview with ERR's Toomas Sildam, Kallas talks about local government, his party, the EU presidency, and perspectives in Estonian politics.